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Thursday, January 16, 2014

It is reveal day for the Improv Cooking Challenge! This month the ingredients are crackers and cheese so I made these Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bites! This is not my "go to" cheesecake recipe that I usually bake, although I still adore it. I wanted to get outside my comfort zone and try a totally new cheesecake recipe, and I am so glad I did. It has a deep vanilla bean flavor that I know you are going to love.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Here are some fun winter cookies I think you will like! I call them
snowball cookies because they are dipped in white chocolate, and then
dipped in edible crystal flakes that look like glistening snow. They
also have a surprise ingredient in the center~a chocolate kiss! So you
can throw them at someone you love!

Mold the dough around your chocolate and form into a ball. Place on baking sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes.Don't worry about browning the cookies.They will get a little brown on the bottom only.

Let your cookies cool completely.(They taste really good right now with the melty kiss inside!)

While your cookies are cooling, chop your white chocolate,and melt it in a double boiler or microwave if you prefer.

Once the chocolate is melted, place the top of the cookie in the chocolate to coat the top.

Then dip the top of the chocolate covered cookie into the sparkly sprinkles.Set them back on your cooling rack to dry.

They look so pretty, .....

and here is your surprise inside!I hope you enjoy these snowball cookies. This recipe is originally froman adaption of the thumbprint cookies that I love to make froma Southern Living recipe. I love when recipes are so good theycan be used as several different items, don't you?!Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Today I am participating in the Lady Behind The Curtain Dessert Challenge, and I made Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows Sugar Cookies. The ingredients for this month are cocoa or chocolate pudding and marshmallows. This is always such a fun challenge, and I am so glad to finally be participating again. I made these sugar cookies because I am always trying to improve my decorating skills, and because they were fun!

Monday, December 30, 2013

I love a New Years Eve Party! Well, I love just about any reason for a party, but....New Years Eve is a great reason, and if you are looking for a simple, but yummy, appetizer for your New Years festivities, this Buffalo Wings Flatbread is for you! One of the reasons I love this appetizer is because I used actual leftover buffalo chicken wings to create this recipe. My husband and I went to TGI Fridays to have some lunch. We tried some appetizers, one of which was a flatbread. We also ordered chicken wings, some other yummy food, and had a really fun time. As usual, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, and we ended up bringing home a bunch of chicken wings. After 2 days, the wings were still in the fridge, and I wanted to do something with them. I remembered that I had some flatbread I had bought at the grocery. Then, I thought about the flatbread we had at lunch, and I thought, what if I do this and add this, and I ended up with this flatbread, kinda inspired by TGI Fridays!

Friday, December 20, 2013

I admit it! I have an incredible sweet tooth. To satisfy it, I am always on the lookout for some new or revamped treat that will conquer my craving and leave me happy and smiling! During the holidays, sweets are everywhere, and they are easy to obtain. But P.F. Chang’s is offering some seasonal sweets that satisfy and delight!

How does a handmade Dessert Wonton sound? I know, right? It sounds incredible! Now, how about two different flavors~Chocolate Raspberry and Sweet Vanilla Cream. All I can say is bring them on, and bring both kinds! The Chocolate Raspberry is stuffed with a creamy chocolate-raspberry filling, dusted with powdered sugar, served with chocolate and raspberry sauces and fresh raspberries and mint. Oh, heaven!! And the Sweet Vanilla Cream? Warm and crispy wontons filled with vanilla cream cheese, dusted with powdered sugar and served with vanilla and raspberry sauces and fresh mint.

What about a Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino? It sounds like a great way to end a wonderful meal, doesn't it? You can enjoy a Crave Mint Chocolate Liqueur and vodka added to a classic cappuccino, finished with crushed peppermint candy. Are you in love with the aroma and taste of vanilla bean? Then treat your taste buds to a Vanilla Bean Bourban Milkshake!! Woodford bourbon is blended with vanilla bean ice cream, graham crackers and honey, and served with a honey graham cracker pop. Pure bliss!

Drop in to P.F. Changs this holiday season and enjoy their traditional menu, which is always wonderful, and add some sweet to this sweetest of seasons by trying their delicious handmade dessert wontons or one of their two handcrafted holiday beverages.

If you get there before me, order me a Sweet Vanilla Cream Wonton and a Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Today I have the pleasure of joining in a Cookie Swap Party! Being a devout cookie lover, I decided to try something a little different this time, and I made a Cardamom-Orange Sugar Cookie. The flavor of cardamom is one of my favorites (although I seldom use it), and when I saw this recipe from Dede Wilson of Epicurious.com, I had to try it. I hope you enjoy it too!

Cardamom Orange Sugar Cookies

2 1/2 cups Flour

1 1/4 teaspoons Ground Cardamom

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 1/2 cups Butter, room temperature

1 cup + 2 tablespoons Sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated Orange Peel

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

1 large Egg

1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips, melted

holiday sprinkles

Whisk your flour, cardamom, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat your butter and sugar until light and creamy.

Beat in finely grated orange peel and vanilla.

Add your egg and beat to blend.

Add your flour to the wet ingredients in 3 increments.

Beat on low after each addition, just until blended.

Divide your dough in half.

Wrap each half in parchment or plastic wrap.

Chill about 45 minutes. Dough can be chilled for

up to 24 hours if you want to make ahead.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Use a cookie scoop, or you can form with your hands,

and place dough on the baking sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Let cool.

Swirl your melted chocolate on top of your cooled cookies.

Sprinkle with holiday colors!

A note about Cardamom~It is an expensive spice. It can be used

in lots of different recipes, not just sweets. It has a unique flavor,